Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Calif.) has announced that her mother died Friday morning. Nancy Speier was 93 and died “peacefully with her daughter and granddaughter at her side, at the Congresswoman’s home,” according to a statement from Speier’s office. Speier was born in Fresno, Calif., to Armenian immigrants and worked as an upholstery teacher for more than 50 years, finally retiring just three months ago. “We all contribute to this world in different ways,” the Congresswoman said in a statement. “My mother did it with her hands, her generosity and her incredible work ethic. Her students often tell me about the no-nonsense advice my mother gave them on life, love and other topics seemingly unrelated to upholstery. We are all very blessed to have had her in our lives for so long.”